Top 10: Extravagant Getaways

Number 5

A royal stay in Monaco

It's barely one square mile in size, but this tiny European principality is synonymous with luxury and leisure. Stay at the opulent Hotel de Paris and stroll through the city's winding streets, decked with pricey boutiques and pricier restos.

Feel like a king while visiting the Palace of the Prince (the Palais du Prince ), then bet your greenbacks at the world-famous casino in Monte Carlo. Better yet, do this in May during the Formula 1 Grand Prix, when they open the circuit to the public before the engines take over. You'll never see a greater concentration of the rich and famous.

What not to miss: Watching the race from a rooftop or sailboat, since the streets of Monaco double as the racetrack

Price: Four nights in an apartment room in the Hotel de Paris and one premium ticket for the Grand Prix on Sunday will set you back about $12,000, plus additional expenses.

Number 4

Luxurious Caribbean cruise

Island-hop through paradise in the world's biggest ship — the Queen Mary 2, which boasts 1,296 cabins and space for 2,620 passengers. For 10 days, you will relish the sun, sights and scents of the best getaway spots in the world like Tortola, St. Kitts, Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Thomas.

But you may be tempted to skip the beaches since the boat itself has sports facilities, casinos, spas, restaurants, hydrotherapy pools, performance stages, ballrooms, and a planetarium.

Don't miss: A full gastronomical experience in one of the QM2's six dining venues

Price: $18,250 for a Grand Duplex Apartment

Number 3

A stay in a French castle

To feel like royalty, spend a week where the Sun King used to unwind. The Chateau du Parc, only 20 minutes from Versailles and 35 minutes from Paris, is old-world magnificence incarnate. The mansion sleeps 22 in 17 bedrooms decked to the brim with plush Louis XIV-era flourishes.

If the interior isn't enough, the gardens outside offer serenity with recreation: two lakes, a swimming pool and tennis courts. Dine in elegance with fine French cuisine right in the Chateau, or head to the City of Lights for some unforgettable nights.

Don't miss: The Chateau's unbelievable chapel

Price: $50,000 a week

Number 2

An island in Fiji

That's right, an entire chunk of paradise can be yours for a week with all the trimmings. On Turtle Island, enjoy absolute privacy while being pampered by over 100 servants who meet your every need.

There are 14 cottages that accommodate two adults and up to four kids, each one with its own staff. Organize group picnics at one of the 14 beaches, go horseback riding on the sand, windsurf, and enjoy a full Fiji massage.

Don't miss: The "lovo buffet"

Price: $275,000 for seven nights

Number 1

Own a yacht... temporarily

Aren't some billionaires nice? They make their blindingly glitzy yachts available for public charter. The most absurdly luxurious of them all is the Annaliesse, owned by charter tycoon Andreas Liveras.

Accommodating 36 guests, the boat offers one crew member per guest to serve your every need, whether it be personal bartending at the Roman bath, a massage at the spa, personal training in the gym, or hand-feeding popcorn at the movie theater (OK, that's just a guess). It even has an onboard hospital with satellite links to medical teams on land. Talk about a true paradise on water.

Don't miss: The bedrooms, at 1,200 square feet each, all have private decks.

Price: $840,000 per week

that's what money is for

People who balk at a $50,000 vacation have never taken a $50,000 vacation. If you have the cash, you know that there are people who are eager to spoil you in every way. Besides, what else will you spend your hard-earned money on?